Executive Director of the EPFL EMBA Program

EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research, and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

Executive Director of the EPFL EMBA Program

Reporting to the Head of Executive Education at EPFL’s College of Management, the successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing and ensuring the continued success of the EPFL EMBA “Harnessing Innovation” program. The role includes collaborating with the Academic Director, EMBA lecturers, and the EMBA Team to design learning journeys, develop learning objectives and assessments, attract new students, and ensure an outstanding learning experience.

Main duties and responsibilities

1. Initiate, coordinate and manage all necessary (marketing) actions to attract new participants for the EMBA program.
2. Develop, review and update the EMBA program curriculum and set long-term goals in close collaboration with the Academic Director, Head of Executive Education, and the EMBA team to ensure that the curriculum is relevant, up-to-date, and aligned with the mission of the Executive Education department.
3. Ensure a high-quality curriculum, establish and maintain contact with current and prospective lecturers, and be their prime contact.
4. Manage the EMBA program and day-to-day operations, including admissions, the schedule, the participant journey, and enrollment together with the EMBA team.
5. Support participants throughout their learning journey, monitor assessments and grading, and be the contact point for coaching and career advice.
6. Oversee the financial planning and resource allocation regarding the program.
7. Engage with the Advisory Board regarding program status and potential improvements and engage with alumni to build and maintain a highly supportive community.
8. Continuously assess program effectiveness, quality, and learning outcomes through regular assessments and impact measures and initiate changes when necessary.
9. Ensure accreditation standards are maintained and implemented to meet the requirements of accreditation bodies.
10. Active participation in the operational activities of the EMBA program, including certain Saturday sessions.

Profile

Education:

• MBA or Master’s degree required.

Experience:

• Management experience, especially managing multiple projects and teams.
• Demonstrate a proven track record of managing executive education programs, anticipating challenges, and driving long-term success.
• Experience working in a talent development environment, consultancy, or similar is a plus.
• Understanding of and solid experience working on pedagogical design and methods.
• Experience in a client-facing management position.
• A high level of comfort with technology and digital tools.

Skills:

• Customer-centricity, understand customer needs and concerns to be able to advise, support, and proactively seek out solutions.
• Project management experience, able to identify key priorities for action in the context of a dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Willingness to work on certain Saturdays in alignment with the EMBA program schedule, to supervise delivery activities.
• Fluent in English; French and any additional language is an asset.
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills.

We offer

• A stimulating environment at the forefront of executive education and in an international environment.
• A flexible and innovative driven educational organization.
• Flexible working time between on-site and remote work (40%).